South Oldham (1-1) vs. North Oldham (2-1) at Goshen

 

Video broadcast live on The Pegasus Sports Network - PSN beginning at 7 pm. (Broadcast is also archived on the site indefinitely, to be viewed anytime later)

 

....South gave up about 4 big plays that resulted in long TDs on the road Week 1 in a 12-point loss to powerful Anderson County, but bounced back for a trouncing of Doss (44-8) in Week 2. They had their "bye" week last week, so they've had an extra week to prepare for their arch rivals from Goshen. Jamie Reed has had nothing but success since coming to South, but this is the "greenest" team he's ever fielded in Crestwood. It is, however, his largest squad. At 87 roster players, this is the largest South team since Reed arrived. Still perhaps some doubt as to who's number one at QB(?) - two sophomores are both taking reps. Starr Thompson is electric as both a runner and a receiver and is a threat to take any touch to the house for six..... On defense, senior DL Tre Mills is the vocal leader of this bunch, and the only returning DL starter. The secondary may be one of the best Reed has had at South and will help a inexperienced front seven to grow into their roles.

 

....North had a stunning 38-0 loss on the road at 3A power Elizabethtown last week. It was the most points allowed by a Mustang defense since 11/22/13, when North fell in the

4A Regional finals (42-14) against eventual 2013 4A champ, Collins. The Mustang offense is still growing into its roles - QB Taylor Heckenburg, RB Arian Beasley (school all-time leading rusher, 1,649 yards and 31 TDs in 2014), RB Chris Webb (757 yards rushing), FB Kevin Graham (424 yards rushing, 2014), and leading WR Matt Clark are all gone to graduation. QB T.C. Falkner, FB Wes Johnson, and wingbacks Justin Yurt and Adam Osborne all must grow into their roles. There are enough veterans up front to open holes if the new guys can take advantage. Joey Ingemi (330 lbs) is huge - literally - in the middle of the O line, and Colin Portman and Landon Jones bring varsity experience. On defense, Portman returns after registering 105 tackles in 2014. Wes Johnson at MLB is a fast (4.5 forty) tackling beast that registered 18 tackles in the opening win vs. Western. The defense returns six starters from a unit that allowed the fewest points in Class 4A last year at 9.5 ppg, while shutting out five opponents and holding three others to 7 points or less. John Reitnauer and Adam Osborne are solid at the outside 'backer spots, and the defensive backfield features good quickness.

 

North has not lost back-to-back games since the close of the 2012 season, when they dropped their final three games after suffering a bevy of injuries.

 

North Oldham leads the series, 6-4, and has won the last two games (and six of the last 8).

 

Last year: North Oldham 28, South Oldham 14 - Arian Beasley ran for 165 yards and the North offense accumulated 309 yards on the ground - the third time in a row North amassed 300+ yards on the ground vs. South - en route to the win.

 

The Mustangs are 4-1 at home in the series. Their only loss to South in Goshen was in the first-ever meeting between the schools, on 8/26/05, when South whipped the Mustangs, 56-0.

 

This should be a GREAT game. This is the most intense rivalry in the county....most of the North Oldham students came from South Oldham when NOHS opened in 2003, and the rivalry was born overnight.

 

Thoughts??

 

Pregame show on the Pegasus Sports Network starts at 7 pm. Live video coverage at The Pegasus Sports Network - PSN (also available as an archive on the website indefinitely)

Great information Mike. I hope you give us a breakdown of the game this weekend.

I'm looking forward to seeing how North bounces back this week. Last week's game was stunning to me.

It'll be interesting to watch, I think. Great game to go see, but if you can't, watch on The Pegasus Sports Network - PSN. (live and archived)

South is very young, especially on offense. At one point I counted only 3 seniors on the field and six sophomores. Something to grow on. While the QB's split time in the Anderson game, Zaubi is now the QB and took all the first team reps in the Doss game until the game was out of reach, and has taken all the first team reps since. This team could be very good as the Sophs and Juniors are stepping up, but the main focus of the offense are Seniors Starr Thompson and Shane Wilson.

North will be a very good test for this team and being a rivalry both teams will be fired up and ready. Expect a very physical game. Hope the weather holds up!

I'd suspect Beasley will be the difference. He's fun to watch. Hoping South can put the brakes on him. Tall order.

I'd suspect Beasley will be the difference. He's fun to watch. Hoping South can put the brakes on him. Tall order.

 

Since Beasley is running for Eastern Ky now I hope South won't have to stop him!!

Since Beasley is running for Eastern Ky now I hope South won't have to stop him!!

I misunderstood, I thought he was a junior last season. Senior this season. Well, good news for South. Good luck in the rivalry game.

I misunderstood, I thought he was a junior last season. Senior this season. Well, good news for South. Good luck in the rivalry game.

 

Thanks and no problem. He was a special player and hope he is doing well in college. But glad Beasley is IN college now. Will still be a great game.

On the South QB situation, yes, Drew Zaubi is firmly entrenched at the moment at QB. Jamie Reed is not one to pull his QB too quickly, but I do think that there is a bit of "wait and see" in the South camp. Personally, I think Drew has done enough in the first two games to pretty much cement his role as the #1 , though.

Interesting North trivia:

 

- North's 38-0 loss to Elizabethtown last week was a big surprise (not that the Panthers won, just by the score/margin). Some notes about that score:

 

- The last time NOHS surrendered 38 or more points: 11/22/13 4A Regional Finals Collins 42 North 14 (Collins went on to win the state title)

 

- the last time North was shut out: 9/6/13 Christian Academy of Louisville 19 North 0 (a span of 25 games)

 

- the last time North was defeated by 38 or more points: 10/6/2006 Mercer Co 68, North Oldham 7 (Coach Billy Martin's first season at North, the Mustangs went 0-10 that year)

 

A loss to South would be North's second straight loss....North has not lost two games in a row since the end of 2012, when a string of injuries led to the Mustangs losing their final three games of the season....

Interesting South trivia:

 

- Prior to head coach Jamie Reeds arrival, the Dragons had not reached the second round of the playoffs since losing to Oldham County in the second round of the class 3A playoffs in 1998 under Bob Bronger. The Dragons have reached the second round in each of the last three seasons.

 

- This is a very young South team. There are 10 sophomores and 1 freshman in the two deep offense - defense provided to Pegasus Sports. (however, only two are listed as starters)

 

- In one of the stranger bits of trivia, South had never hosted a football playoff game in the history of the school (opened in 1998) until Jamie Reed took over as coach. The Dragons earned the right to host in the 2012 season, and their last six playoff games over the past three seasons have all been played in Crestwood.